Car-coupling



(No Mod B- G', GAR GOUPLING No. 462,227 Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

UNrTEn ETATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDTIN G, ADAMS, OE COHOES, NEIV YO CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,227, dated November3, 1891.

Application filed March 24, 1891. Serial No. 386,251, (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN G. Annns, of Oohoes, in the county of Albanyand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Car-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-couplers, the object ofthe device being to provide simple devices whereby the cars can bereadily uncoupled and coupled without the necessity of the brakeman orother train-hand exposing himself to danger by entering between the twoplatforms or ends of the cars during the act of coupling or uncoupling.

With this end in view my invention consists in the parts andcombinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of two draw-headsembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal verticalsection through two draw-heads and connecting link, and Fig. 3 is a viewof the link.

A represents a draw-head of any desired shape, having in its upper sideand also preferably in its lower side elongated slots a, slightly widerthan the thickness of the coupling-pin and adapted to receive thecouplingpin, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Instead ofproviding the lower side of the draw-head with an open slot, as shown, agroove having an abutment at its front end for the lower end of the pin,or a single abutment or shoulder for the lower end of the pin wouldanswer all purposes.

Each draw-head is provided on its upper face with a pivoted frame 13,and each frame is provided with an elongated slot 0, adapted to permitof the free swinging movement of its coupling-pin. Vhile I have shownthe frame B slotted from a point 11 ear its rear end through its frontor free end, it is evident that the front or free end can be closed, asit is only necessary that the slot shall be of sufficient length topermit the pin to tilt when a link enters the draw head and also permitthe pin to retain a vertical position while the frame B is beingelevated and lowered.

Each frame is pivoted, hinged, or otherwise loosely secured at its rearend to the top of the draw-head, preferably at a point behind theelongated slot therein, or it can be hinged or otherwise secured to thecar-body adjacent to the car; but as the draw-head is generally mountedso as to yield or move independently of the body, it is of course moredesirable, less expensive, and complicates matters less to secure theframe directly to the top of the drawheads.

Each frame is provided near its outer end and on its upper surface withelongated loops d, arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of theslot for the reception of the pintles e of the coupling-pin. Thesepintles are near the upper ends of the coupling-pins, and hence as thegreater weight is below the pintles or pivotal points of thecoupling-pins the tendency of the pins is to remain vertical. Theelongated loops on the frame are located approximately in line with ornear to the front edge of upper slot in the draw-head, so that when thecars are coupled all the strain on the coupling-pins is borne by thedraw-heads and the pintles are comparatively free from strain. From theabove it will be seen that the coupling-pins are loosely supported andare free to swing backwardly and upwardly for the entrance of a linkheld in an opposing draw-head. As soon as the end of the link passes theend o f the pin the latter swings back to its normal position and locksthe coupling in place.

Numerous devices can be designed for elevatin g the frame 13 and theconnected coupling-pin; but I prefer the arrangement shown in thedrawings, which consists of cords or chains E attached to the eyes fnear the outer end of the frame and secured together at a point behindthe upper end of the couplingpin. Both cordsor chains pass in oppositedirections through an eye g, secured to the .car-body or otherconvenient part of the device, and from thence pass through eyes It,located near the sides of the car and hang within convenient reach of abrakeman or train-hand standing at the side of the car. The cords orchains E are provided with a stop 2' for limiting the upward movement ofthe frame, the said cord or stop being so 10- cated as to stop themovement of the frame I their normal position.

before the lower end of the coupling-pin passes out of-the slot in theupper side of the head. By means of pulling the cords or chains theframe can be elevated for uncoupling, and when the cord is loosened ordropped the pin and frame are forced by gravity to assume An ordinaryoblong coupling-link can be employed, but I prefer the form shown inFig. 3. This linkHis oblong and is provided at one end with an oblongslotj, running about one-half (more or less) of the length of the link.The opposite end of the link is solid'and provided with a circularopening j, slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of thecoupling-pin, so that the latter can be freely inserted and withdrawntherefrom.

Located on a line passing preferably between the oblong slotj and thecircular openingj is the downw-ard'ly-proj ecting rib, which latter,when the link is in position, rests on the inner face of the draw-headand forms a pivot .on which the link can tilt, thus permitting the outerend of the link to maintain a position slightly higher than the innerend as it enters the opposing draw-head. The solid end of the link isdesigned to rest against the back wall of the inner face of thedraw-head, and thus relieve the coupling-pin from all strain as the carscome together, andfrom its greater weight to turn .slightly downward onthe pivotal rib and thereby raise and steady the outer end as itapproaches the opposite draw-head, the circular opening beingsufficiently large to .permit of a slight sliding movement of the link.

By means of the swinging frame the entire act of uncoupling can beaccomplished from the side of the car, and hence liability to accidentis greatly lessened.

It is evident that many slight changes may be made in the form andarrangement of the several parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention, and hence I would have it understoodthat I do not confine myself to the exact construction herein shown anddescribed, but reserve the right to make such slight alterations asfairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, a frame hingedto the top of the hinged to the top of the draw-head, said frame havinga slot corresponding substantially with theslot in the draw-head, andelongated bearings formed at or near .the outer or free end of theframe,.of a pin having pintles which operate in the elongated bearingsof the frame, substantially as set forth.

3. A coupling link straight or approximately straight throughout itsentire length and provided with an elongated slot at one end and with asmaller opening or hole near its opposite end, the said link beingprovided on one face and near the smaller opening with a dependingintegral rib adapted to rest on the floor of the draw-head and form afulcrum for the link. I

4. A coupling link straight or approxi mately straight throughout its'entire length and provided on one face with a transverse integral rib andwith a small opening passing through the link and rib, and with anelongated opening, substantially as set forth.

tVitnesses;

OLAIRs LAVIGNE, JULIUS FOUNTAINE.

